Mechanism control



May 5, 1953 R. s. HlNsEY MECHNISM CONTROL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1949 lmvenfor:

Patented May 5, 19.5.3

U N TED uFICE evaluation December T16, laiefseiifiin.ieaeie (c1. vee-ete i115 Claims. l

invention relates 'to .mechanism ae'tuatin'e or control devices and more "particularly to an arrangement -espe'cialltr -adalpted for actuatngfg and controlling the ``e`r;r1ei"gency or vparking `b'rake"s of an automotive vehicle. A

The inventicn embraces the provision of 4longitudinally Aactuab'le er 'movable Ineans cooperating with a friction lock 'arrangement for 'retaining the longitudinally movable `or actuable means'in adjusted position. A

'The invention has for an object the provision di mechanism actuatingT means embdving a longitudinally movable bar vor lrxernber 'adapted to be connected "to mechanism to ybe .actuated in conjunction with a friction 'look means for A`'retaining .the .longitudinally "movable bar in any position of vliongi'tui'inal adjustment, the 'Toornblnalion including ne'ans 'in the frin of 'all `'1"1 dependently operable member for effecting Aa release of ftyhe l'oc'k 'iea'l's 't0 permit ielog'ade movement o'f lthe longitudinally i-lovable miembel vt0 its n'iialflps'in.

Another object of the inv`eitidn is the 'provision bf 'mechanism actuating means einbdyn'g a null 'ber operating in conjunction with anictio'n relier lock 'means for heldin'g the 'pull bar in `any ilos'iicn of lo'ngilildinal ju'slrr'ient, th arrangement embodying e member rearnedbv-tine pllvbal and movable lieiallyw't'h-pit thereto for releasing the 'Toller 'from ng'ager'nentlvlth the br through independent Vine"le'rri'lilt of lfle member carried by the bar. Y

A further objeet ei the invention resides in the provision ef .a 'pun type 'brake actuating device for a Vehicle 'ebyin'g a longitudinally mili/'able member fashioned of sheet metaiadaptedior co"- operation with friction lock or brake means :for holding the lligldinally movable rl'einber adjusted position, the member being 'provided with a hardened plate or element 'adapted to be ein aged directly by 'the lock means, this arrange;- ment providing "for long life with a minimum 'bf Wear b'the locking mechanism. y

:another 'object 'o'f *the invention is the 'provi'- sion of a pn'il *t5/'lie 'brake actuating device for vehicles, the deviee memoire a longitudinali: movable pull `bar and a *friction roller lock errfe'ans ccoperating with the pull bar for retaining the latter in any position of lengitudinal adj'ustment, the device including vra manually yoperable element independently movable with respect to the pull baifoi1 effecting 'a release of the lock means, the Alock means 'being Tse Verranged that relatively 'slight additional 'advance movement 'of t ,the pull "bar "is required to effect a release of the leek means `ehreeen linoependem; movement oi theioek veieesmg-eiement.

emi a .further @bien ef fthe invention is the provision of a "pull type brake `actuating `^device inWhici-i the "brake 'actuating "member is provided with 'a Wear 1plat-e or eler'nent fashioned of hardened Spring lsteel or 4the like cooperalole with a frictie'n lock `meansJ the 'arra'ngement facilitating 'thenanuractui'e olf the linenber from 'sheet metal ai; a flow fcst through V'the elimination of hardening and neat vtreating the member.

Stili another fobject vof tn-e invention isth'e provision ci la pui-i type fbraice ectiiating L device in Whichftne major elements are fashioned `or fabricated iijdmf'sheet lmetal :so as to facilitate inter-- chaneeabiiity lof parts yand wherein v'the parts may be inexpensively produced in 'mass quantities` Further fobj ects and advantagesjare Within the scope nf this invention such tasreiate to the 'arrange'rrerft, operation 'and lfuncftion'of `the related e'l'einents of ithe structure, to various details of construction uand 'to combinations 'of parts, ele#- men'ts per se, and to economies of 'manufacture and numerbnjs Aether features as will be apparent nem e wundere-tien of the specification and drawingofa forrrioi the invention, which `may be preferred, in `wir-ieri:

Figzre l is aside-'elevationalview illustrating a form of the invention as utilized for 'actuating the `parking; or emergency y`bralzes of a vehicle, the mechanism being illustrated as 'supported by the instrument panel rand dashboard er a vehicle;

a toppiari view of the arrangement illnsti'ated in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an end 'view of the 'mechanism illustrated in Figure l'l; Y

Figure 5 "is an isometric View lillustrating the pull lbar construction of .my invention;

.Figure 6 is -an isometric view illustrating an element forming a pari; of the lock `releasing mec-hamsm;

Figure '7 .is a longitudmai :sectional View showing the locking :mechanism iin leffective position retaining the pull lbar .in adust'ed ip'o'st'nm;

Figure 8 fis a 'view simil-ar t Figure '7 showing the lock' and lock releasing means lock re leased position;

Figure r9 Lis a vertical sectional view taken sub'- stantiallyfon the "line 949 4of Figure 7.;

p 'neuve 1b Iis, e vertleeleeetonai view taken substantiaiiy en the une Aru-:lll of 'Figure iv;

Figure '1'1 a leta'l Vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is a longtudinal sectional view similar to Figure '7 illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Figure 13 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line i3-l3 of Figure 12 While I have illustrated the forms oi the invention or mechanism control as particularly adaptable for actuating the emergency or parking brakes of a vehicle, it is t be understood that the arrangement of the invention may be used for actuating or controlling other mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings in detail and rst with respect to Figure l, the dashboard of a vehicle is indicated at I@ and the instrument panel at l I. The arrangement of the invention is preferably supported by the instrument panel and the dashboard although other suitable supporting arrangements inay be employed if desired. As illustrated in Figure l the instrument panel is provided with a forwardly extending ange I2, to which a bracket i4 is secured by means of bolts l5. An elongated hollow or tubular housing I3 preferably formed of sheet metal is adapted to directly support and function as a guide means for a longitudinally movable member or pull bar 2D, the latter being adapted to be connected to the brake mechanism or other arrangement to be controlled. As particularly shown in the sectional view at Figure l1 the housing or guide member 1S is formed of sheet metal to substantially rectangular conguraticn, the metal being folded so that the free ends or edges thereof are in juxtaposed relation as indicated at 22 in Figure 2. The bottom Wall of the housing I8 is formed with a longitudinally extending opening or slot 24. The righthand end of the housing i8 as viewed in Figures l, 2 and 4 is integrally formed with laterally extending projections 25, which are secured to a depending portion of the bracket lf.'- by means of rivets 2l'. The other end portion of the tubular housing i3 is formed to cylindrical cross section and the exterior thereof threaded as at 29. The threaded cylindrical portion projects through an opening in the dashboard lll, a securing nut 35 being disposed at each side of the dashboard to retain the housing in relatively xed position.

The brake actuating member or bar 2E] is also formed of sheet metal to rectangular configuration in cross section and of a dimension to t the interior of the housing it with suilcient clearance to be readily slidable therein. The bar 2t is fashioned so that the edges are spaced throughout a portion of their length as shown in Figure 5 providing a longitudinally extending space 32 to accommodate a bar or element 33 forming part of a lock releasing mechanism. The side wall portions of the member 2li at one end are formed with extensions 35 which are bent inwardly or laterally to the position illustrated in Figure 5, the portions 35 forming abutment means for a collar 3G, the latter being securely fastened to the extremity of a ilexible wire cable 38 which is connected to the brake mechanism (not shown) or other mechanism to be controlled. The adjacent edges or" the inwardly turned ears 35 are notched as at Se to accommodate the cable 38. The collar or stop member 35 may be securely fastened to the cable 3S by swaging or indenting portions of the collar as at ill to drive or force projections formed thereby into securing engagement with the cable. The cable 38 is preferably contained within and guided by a suitable ilexible' vby a lcok member or roller 52.

sheath 42. It will be apparent that a longitudinal movement of the member 20 in a righthand direction as viewed in Figure 7 moves the cable 3d in a righth'and direction for energizing the parking brakes of a vehicle or for controlling other mechanism connected thereto. The other end of member 2li extends through an opening in the bracket lli and is provided with a handle or grip portion M also formed of sheet metal which is provided with a tubular portion 45 of a cross sectional contour to snugly t over a portion of member 2li. The portion l5 of the handle may be secured to the pull bar by indenting portions 46 of the handle extension or by spot welding or other suitable securing means.

Lock means is provided for frictionally retaining the bar 2li in any adjusted position relative to the stationary tube or housing i 8. As particularly shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10, the parallel side wall portions E and flil of the housing I8 project upwardly and are provided with rectangularly shaped openings adapted to accommodate an abutment or relatively stationary element 50, one surface 5I of which is adapted to be engaged Mounted upon the upper surface of the bar 2li is a hardened plate element 5&5 presenting a smooth hard wear surface for engagement with the lock roller 52. The element 5d may be fashioned from a comparatively thin band of spring steel or the like which is disposed in contiguous relation with the upper surface of the bar 2U, the ends of which are secured to the bar by spot welding as indicated at 55. By this means an inexpensively constructed hardened wear surface is provided for the bar or manipulating member 20 without hardening or heat treating the bar 2l). This arrangement also eliminates any distortion of the bar 2li as the bar may be completely processed to finished form without subjecting it to any treatment which would cause distortion. It should be noted that the locking member engaging surface 5l of the abutment 5 is disposed at an acute or wedge angle with respect to the plane of the wear surface of plate 54 so as to cause the locking roller or member 52 to frictionally hold the bar or member 20 in adjusted position.

Means are provided for normally urging the locking member or roller 52 toward locking position and for effecting disengagement of the roller with the surface on members 5E) and 5d. Straddling the housing i8 and bar 20 is a U-shaped member or bracket 58, the upper portions of the legs of the bracket being provided with aligned openings to receive tenons 5G formed on a pin or stub shaft Si), the ends of the tenons being swaged as at 6i to secure the bracket 58 in assembled relation therewith. The pin or shaft 60 extends through aligned openings in the walls 43 and 49, the arrangement providing for pivotal movement of the bracket 58 about the axis of the shaft G. The walls i3 and 49 are provided with openings 62 to accommodate the assembly of the locking roller or member 52 in the position shown in Figure 10. The locking roller or member 52 is provided with axially extending tenons 53 which project into slots 55 formed in the legs of the bracket 58. The walls of the slots 55 are in substantially parallel relation and snugly nt the tenons 53 and are arranged substantially at right angles to the plane of the surface 5i of the abutment 5i] as shown in Figures 7 and 8. It will be noted that when the bracket 58 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 60 one wall of each of the slots 55 engages the tenons which is slotted to accommodate the end portion of the bar 98. A pin |01 is carried by the end of the bar 98 and extends into vertical slots |08 formed in the furcations of the portion |05 of the rod. The rod |04 is provided at its outer end with a cylindrical member or push button 84', a spring 8l' being interposed between the cylindrical member` 84 and an end wall formed on the pull bar or member 20. The spring 8l serves to bias the rod |04 and the clutch releasing bar 98 away from releasing position. When the operator desires to set the brakes of the vehicle or to actuate other mechanism with which the arrangement of my invention may be used, the operator grasps the handle 44 and withdraws the bar 20 in a righthand direction as viewed in Fieure |2 until the brakes are set or other mechanism moved to a selected position. rThe lock member 52, under the influence of the spring 64', acts through the bracket 58 to cause the lock or roller 52' to frictionally engage the abutment 50 and the hardened plate 54 to hold the pull bar in adjusted position. When it is desired to release the brakes or to cause retrograde movement of the pull bar 20', the operator grasps the handle 44' and exerts force in a righthand direction as viewed in Figure 12 to cause slight additional advance movement of the pull bar 20' toward brake set position. Concomitantly with this action the operator depresses the push button 84 moving rod |04 in a lefthand direction, the pin |01, cooperating with the walls of the slot |08, causes a pivotal movement of the lock releasing bar 98 about the axes of pins |00 whereby the bar 98 engages the bight portion of bracket 58 swinging the latter in a counterclockwise direction thus effecting a release of the lock roller 52 from frictional or locking engagement with the hardened plate 54'. The operator then exerts a forward pressure upon the handle 44 while keeping the push button 84 depressed and moves the bar 20' toward its initial position in a lefthand direction as viewed in Figures 12. It will be obvious that should the operator release pressure upon the push button 84', the release bar 98 will be swung upwardly under the influence of the spring 8l and the roller 52 will be instantly and automatically returned to clutching or braking engagement with the plate 54', such action restraining further retrograde movement of the pull bar or member 20.

It has been found that the locking roller in both forms of the invention becomes very tightly wedged in pull bar retaining position and that it requires a slight additional movement of the pull bar toward brake setting position in order to satisfactorily effect a release of the roller through manipula-tion of the push button. The advantages of this arrangement have been hereinbefore pointed out in connection with the other form of the invention previously described herein.

The provision of the hardened plate on the pull bar serving as a clutch or locking surface in the several forms of the invention has several advantages. I have found that hardened and tempered steel band material suitable for this purpose may be ycut to suitable lengths and the severed lengths spot welded to the pull bars. As such material may be purchased already hardened, the use of this material eliminates the hardening or heat treatment which would normally be necessary in a pull bar construction wherein a surface of the pull bar is utilized per se as a locking surface. As the pull bar is fashioned or formed from soft sheet metal, inherent stresses are set up during the metal bending operations and when the formed bar is hardened by heat treatment inherent stresses very often cause distortion of the bar. Such a situation requires normalizing and grinding operations in order to secure an accurate and satisfactory clutching surface. The use of a thin hardened band or plate on the pull bar eliminates these dimculties and effects considerable savings in manufacturing costs and provides a better wearing surface.

The provision of a lock release bar or element arranged for movement in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the pull bar provides a simple yet effective means for releasing the friction lock or roller in any position of adjustment of the pull bar.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member mounted on said support and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket articulately supported for movement relative to said support; locking means associated with said bracket and arranged to frictionally retain said member in longitudinally adjusted position; an element carried by said member and arranged for lateral movement relative thereto for engaging the bracket to effect a release of the locking means.

2. A mechanism control device including in combination, a tubular housing; a tubular member supported in said housing and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket articulately supported for movement relative to said housing; a locking roller associated with said bracket and arranged to frictionally retain said tubular member in longitudinally adjusted positions; an element carried by said tubular member and arranged for lateral movement relative thereto for engaging the bracket Ito effect a release of the roller.

3. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member formed of sheet metal mounted upon said support and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; said member having a uniplanar lock engaging surface; a bracket articulately supported for movement relative to said support; locking means including a cylindrical member associated with said bracket and arranged to engage the uniplanar surface for frictonally retaining said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; and a bar carried by said tubular member and arranged for lateral movement relative thereto for engaging the bracket to effect a release of the locking means.

fi. A mechanism control device including in combination, a housing; a member supported by said housing and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket .pivotally supported adjacent said member; locking means associated with said bracket for retaining said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; a plate carried by said member and arranged to be engaged by said locking means; and lock releasing means including a bar coextensively disposed adjacent the member and arranged for independent lateral movement rela- I9 dive :thereto tor .feng-agement lwith asaid bracket :tor releasing said lockingrmerms.

5. A mechanism :control :device `incliuiing in combination, va `tubular support; ,an .elongated member .mounted fon said `support :and arranged or 'longitudinal slidable movement 'with respect thereto; bracket pivotally .supported adjacent .said `-inembe-r14; .locking :means including .a :roller associated 'with said fbracket for retaining `said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; a `thin'hardened plate Welded to said member and arranged `to 'beengaged by vsaid roller; Vinea-ns including a bar coextensivelyfdisposed adjacent the meniber and arranged tor transverse movement relative thereto for engagement with bracket for releasing "said-locking. means, and manually operatedrneansor actuating said bar.

6. A mechanism control `device including in combination, a support; a member ,mounted thereon and arranged 'lor longitudinal 'slida'ble movement with respect thereto; a bracket pivotally supported adjacent saidlneinber; locking meansJ vassociated with said bracket for retaining said member 'in 'longitudinally adjusted ,positions; resilient means for normally urgingsaid locking toward locking position; and means including a bar arranged in substantial parallelism with said member and laterally movable with respect thereto for engagement with said bracket for releasing said locking means.

7. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member mounted thereon and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket pivotally supported adjacent said member; locking means associated with said bracket for retaining the member in longitudinally adjusted positions; resilient means engageable with said bracket for normally inging locking means toward lock-- pos' bar acscciateo. with said member and laterally movable with respect thereto for engagement with bracket, and resilient means for normally biasing said bar out of operative engagement with said bracket.

8. A control device for vehicle parking brakes including in combination, a support; a member mounted thereon and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket pivots-ily supported adjacent said member; a

locking roller associated with said bracket; a plate coextensively disposed on said member and secured thereto; resilient means engageable With said bracket for norma urging said locking roller into ment with the plate on said rnernber; lock releasing means including a bar assoelated with said rn ciber and relatively movable with resp-ect thereto for moving with said bracket: manually operated means for moving said bar into engagement with the bracket to release the locking means, resilient means for normally biasing said bar ont of engagement With said bracket.

9. A mechanism control device includingin combination, a support; a member mounted thereon and arranged for longitudinal slidable moroni ent with respect thereto; a bracket mounted .cent member and arranged for movement relative to said support; a hardened metal plate carried by s id member; a locking member associated with the support engageable with the plate for retaining the member in longitudinally adiusted positions; a bar coextensively disposed adjacent said member and arranged for independent movement in an angular direction ion; lock releasing means including a S10 rwtnrespect'to the .longitudinal axisof fsaiclmember for engaging and actuating .said bracket .to- Wardxlock releasing position, and spring means .for .normally vbiasing.said barton position out of @engagement with the bracket.

10. Alcontrol device for vehicle parking brakes including in combination, a tubular support; a member Yformed of sheet metal mounted :thereon and arrangedfor longitudinal slidable Mmovement Withrespectthereto; a bracket mounted adjacent `said `nierriber and arranged for movement relaltive'to 'said support; a hardened metal lock engagin'gplate secured to said member; a locking member associated With the support and engage- 'able withithe plate for Vretaining'the member in "longitudinally adjusted positions; a bar coextenslvely ldisiiosed ari-jacent said member and arranged for independent movement in a lateral direction'with `respect vto the longitudinal axis of said member for actuating said bracket toward with the' bracket.

lil. A'control device for `vehicle parking brakes yincluding :in combination, a support; a hollow member formed of sheet metal mounted thereon and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket mounted adjacent said member and arranged for relative pivotal movement; a thin metal plate Welded to said member; a locking member associated with the support and engageable with the plate for retaining the member in longitudinally adjusted positions; a bar coextcnsively disposed Within the hollow interior of said member and arranged for independent movement in an angular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member for engaging and actuating said bracket toward lock releasing position, and means for normally biasing said bar to a position out of engagement with the bracket.

l2. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member formed of sheet metal carried thereby and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket pivotally mounted upon said support; a locking member associated with said bracket for retaining said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; means for normally biasing said locking member toward locking position; lock releasing means including a bar disposed adjacent said member, and means for supporting said bar including a pin and slot connection whereby said bar is relatively movable transversely of said member for engagement with said bracket to eect a release of the locking member.

13. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member carried thereby and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket artlculately mounted upon said support; a locking member associated with said bracket for retaining said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; means for normally biasing said locking member toward locking positions; lock releasing means including a bar disposed adjacent said member; means for supporting said bar including a pin and slot connection whereby said bar is relatively movable transversely oi but in parallelism With the member for engagement with said bracket to effect a release of the locking member; means for normally biasing said bar to a position out of engagement with the bracket, and

- manually operable means for actuating said bar toward lock releasing position.

14. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member formed of sheet metal carried thereby and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket articulately mounted upon said support; a locking member associated with said bracket for retaining said member in longitudinally adjusted positions; means for normally biasing said locking member toward locking position; locking member releasing means including a bar disposed adjacent said member; and means for supporting said bar including a pair of links whereby said bar is relatively movable transversely of but in parallelism with the member for engagement with said bracket to effect a release of the locking member.

l5. A mechanism control device including in combination, a support; a member formed of sheet metal carried thereby and arranged for longitudinal slidable movement with respect thereto; a bracket pivotally mounted upon said support; a locking roller associated with said bracket for retaining said member in longitudi- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,141,266 Dickerson Dec. 27, 1938 2,169,888 Snell Aug. 15, 1939 2,205,987 McCarthy June 25, 1940 2,303,586 Snell Dec. 1, 1942 2,427,103 Hettinga Sept. 9, 1947 2,443,697 Smith June 22, 1948 2,558,558 Hinsey June 26, 1951 

